Methods for Improving Cognition and Slowing Cognitive Impairment

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is directed to the use of nonviable pluripotent stem cells to improve age-related declines in tissue and organ function. In one aspect, nonviable pluripotent stem cells are used to improve cognition in a subject in need thereof. In another aspect, nonviable pluripotent stem cells are used to improve age-related cardiac dysfunction in a subject in need thereof. Administration of nonviable pluripotent stem cells provides a transient and safe form of heterochronic cellular transbiosis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/276,120, filed Sep. 26, 2016, and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/234,444, filed Sep. 29, 2015, which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

This application relates to methods of treating age-related organ ortissue dysfunction, including age-related cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND

Parabiosis is the surgical joining of two animals to create a sharedcirculation system. Heterochronic parabiosis is a well-documentedphenomena whereby the vascular system of two animals of different agesare interconnected so that young blood cells transfer rejuvenatingproperties to the older animal. This allows the younger animal toreverse injury and age related degeneration in the older parabiont(1,2). In parabiotic pairings, the older conjoined parabiont improves,and the younger animal does not develop organ damage or acceleratedaging (1,2). This indicates that the older parabiont is not secretingfactors that cause aging but instead is deficient in factors thatreverse aging, which are provided via the younger animal's circulatorysystem.

The mechanisms involved in heterochronic parabiosis remain incompletelyunderstood. While multiple factors are involved, different cellularderived factor(s) have been attributed to play a partial role inreversal of aging of different organ systems. Following exposure of theaged animal to young blood, reversal of age related cardiac diastolicdysfunction (6), muscle satellite stem cell dysfunction (7), diminishedosteoblast activation(8), and impaired neuro-synaptic plasticity (9)have been separately attributed at least in part to circulating cellsfrom the younger parabiont providing Growth Differentiation Factor 11(GDF-11) (6), enhanced expression activation of NOTCH ligand (7),B-catenin signaling (8), and activation of cyclic AMP response elementbinding protein (Creb) (9), respectively. In other cases, such asparabiont models of wound healing (10) and central nervous systemremyelination (11), regeneration is ascribed directly to transfer ofhematopoietic cells from the younger parabiont.

Despite these benefits, parabiont pairings, that is, the sharing ofcirculations between a younger and an older animal, is not practical dueto ABO blood group incompatibilities. Parabiosis is also complicated byparabiotic intoxication, a form of runting disease or graft versus hostdisease (3), due to the immune cells of the younger animal attacking theorgans of the older parabiont.

SUMMARY

The methods described herein are based on the discovery that nonviablepluripotent stem cells can be used to for transbiosis (heterochroniccellular transplantation) to improve age-related declines in tissue andorgan function, including, for example, improving cognition, slowing theprogression of age-related cognitive impairment, and improvingage-related cardiac impairment.

As described herein, nonviable pluripotent stem cells are administeredto a subject in need of treatment therewith to provide a physiologicallyyounger phenotype and function to an organ or tissue by thetransplantation of the nonviable pluripotent stem cells.

In one approach, a method is provided for improving cognition in asubject in need thereof, the method comprising administering acomposition comprising an amount of nonviable pluripotent stem cellseffective to improve cognition in the subject.

In another approach, a method is provided for slowing the progression ofcognitive impairment in a subject with age-related cognitive impairment,the method comprising administering a composition comprising an amountof nonviable pluripotent stem cells effective to slow the progression ofcognitive impairment in the subject.

In yet another approach, a method is provided for improving age-relatedorgan or tissue dysfunction in a subject in need thereof, the methodcomprising administering a composition comprising an amount of nonviablepluripotent stem cells effective to improve age-related organ or tissuedysfunction in the subject.

The term “effective amount,” “therapeutically effective amount,” orsimilar phrase means the amount that will elicit the biological ormedical response of a subject that is being sought by a medical doctoror other clinician. In one aspect, the term “effective amount” isintended to mean the amount that will bring about a biologicallymeaningful improvement in the treated subject. Successful treatmentusing the methods described herein can be determined by a skilledclinician based upon routine clinical practice.

The pluripotent stem cells useful herein are nonviable. Nonviablepluripotent stem cells, including pluripotent stem cells that have beenlethally irradiated or lyophilized into a powder, remain capable ofimproving age-related declines in tissue and organ function, as well asrepairing damaged organs or tissues in a subject. No adverse effectshave been noted after treatment. At least in some approaches, it hasbeen found that lyophilized pluripotent stem cells have better efficacythan lethally irradiated pluripotent stem cells.

The pluripotent stem cells useful herein can include pluripotent stemcells from all sources, such as but not limited to embryo, placenta,amniotic fluid, bone marrow, or those derived ex vivo from adult stemcells or adult somatic cells, and specifically includes embryonic stemcells (ESCs), modified adult stem or somatic cells (ASCs), that is,induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and very small embryonic-likestem cells (VSELs).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a microscopic picture of a lyophilized embryonic stem cell intrehelose matrix wherein the ESC is nonviable and fixed in afreeze-dried (lyophilized) state.

FIG. 2 is a bar graph showing the total percent of tests failed by aged(18 month old) mice on training day in a Morris Water Maze Test. Agedmice were treated with intraperitoneal (IP) injection of normal saline(NS; control), IP injection of irradiated embryonic stem cells (ESC) inNS, or IP injection of lyophilized ESC in NS.

FIG. 3 is a line graph showing the training day improvement in time (inseconds) to the escape platform of aged (18 month old) mice in a MorrisWater Maze test. Mice were treated with either intraperitoneal (IP)injection of normal saline (NS) or IP injection of lyophilized ESCdissolved in NS.

FIG. 4 is a bar graph showing the results of a long-term memory test ofaged (18 month old) mice in the Morris Water Maze test. Mice weretreated with either intraperitoneal (IP) injection of normal saline (NS)or IP injection of lyophilized ESC dissolved in NS.

FIG. 5 is a bar graph showing the mean time to the escape platform ofaged (18 month old) on the second day in the Morris Water Maze test.Mice were treated with either intraperitoneal (IP) injection of normalsaline (NS) or IP injection of lyophilized ESC dissolved in NS.

FIG. 6 is a bar graph showing cardiac weight in lyophilized ESC treated18 month old mice versus saline treated control 18 month old mice.

FIG. 7 is a bar graph showing cardiac contractility and relaxation afterintraperitoneal treatment with lyophilized ESC versus intraperitonealsaline in eighteen month old mice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aging is believed to be a physiologic process at least in part due tothe loss and or exhaustion of stem cells within the body. The methodsdescribed herein are based on the discovery that cells of a younger ageor phenotype, particularly nonviable pluripotent stem cells, can be usedto for transbiosis (heterochronic cellular transplantation) to improveage-related declines in tissue and organ function, including, forexample, improving cognition, slowing the progression of age-relatedcognitive impairment, and improving age-related cardiac impairment. Asdescribed herein, nonviable pluripotent stem cells are administered to asubject in need of treatment therewith. In one aspect, the presentmethods are effective to provide a physiologically younger phenotype andfunction to an organ or tissue by the transplantation of the nonviablepluripotent stem cells. For example, the nonviable pluripotent stemcells may be administered to cardiac, nerve, muscle, bone, ocular, skin,liver, kidney, and lung tissues.

As used herein, “cognition” or “cognitive” or similar terms mean one ormore mental abilities, including reasoning, judgment, perception,attention, memory, motor skills, language, coordination, intelligence,and visual and spatial processing. These mental abilities may decline atvarying rates among individuals, and the age at which these abilitiesbegin to decline may also vary among individuals.

In one approach, a method is provided for improving cognition in asubject in need thereof, the method comprising administering acomposition comprising an amount of nonviable pluripotent stem cellseffective to improve cognition in the subject. The method is effectiveto improve at least one of the above-mentioned mental abilities. In oneparticular approach, improving cognition specifically includes improvingmemory.

In another approach, a method is provided for slowing the progression ofcognitive impairment in a subject with age-related cognitive impairment,the method comprising administering a composition comprising an amountof nonviable pluripotent stem cells effective to slow the progression ofcognitive impairment of the subject. The method is effective to slow theprogression of at least one of the above-mentioned mental abilities.

In yet another approach, a method is provided for improving age-relatedorgan or tissue dysfunction in a subject in need thereof, the methodcomprising administering a composition comprising an amount of nonviablepluripotent stem cells effective to improve age-related organ or tissuedysfunction in the subject. For example, the age-related organ or tissuedysfunction may include, for example, cardiac dysfunction (e.g., reducedcontractility (i.e., a reduction in the maximum change in pressure withrespect to time (dp/dt) during systole) and diastolic relaxation (i.e.,a reduction in the maximum change in pressure with respect to time(dp/dt) during diastole)).

Successful treatment using the methods described herein can bedetermined by a skilled clinician based upon routine clinical practice.For example, a number of screening tests for cognitive impairment aredescribed in Cullen et al., “A review of screening tests for cognitiveimpairment,” J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, 2007 August; 78(8):790-99, which is incorporated herein by reference. Improved cardiacfunction can be determined by increased contractility and/or increaseddiastolic relaxation.

Advantageously, the improvement in age-related tissue and organdysfunction described herein is not dependent on the permanent presenceof the transplanted pluripotent stem cells in the target tissue or organin the recipient. It is presently believed that the nonviable stem cellsare cleared from the body within a short period of time. The recipientof the nonviable stem cells does not need immune suppression to allowlifelong engraftment because use of nonviable cells advantageouslyeliminates proliferation or growth when injected in vivo. Reducing orobviating the need for life long immunosuppression therapy can greatlyimprove a subject's comfort and quality of life. Advantageously, thenonviable cells do not form teratomas in vivo. Parabiosis-related graftversus host disease (runting disease) is also eliminated because thereis no transfer of lymphocytes or other immune cells.

By “nonviable” is meant that the stem cells are prohibited from growingor dividing (i.e., growth arrested) and in fact are already dead (e.g.,such as by lyophilization) or in the process of dying or undergoingapoptosis within a few days to weeks (e.g., such as by lethalirradiation). As used herein, nonviable cells may be produced by anymethod that causes growth arrest or cell death. In instances where thestem cells are made nonviable by lyophilization or similar technique,the lyophilization process kills the cells and the cells are not viablefor any period of time after the lyophilization process oradministration to the subject. The integrity of the cell membrane may ormay not be maintained, but the cellular contents (such as the proteins,RNA, and lipids) of the cells should be preserved with minimaldegradation such that function and activity of the contents aresubstantially maintained even though the cells are not viable.

In the methods described herein, the nonviable pluripotent stem cellsare delivered in an effective amount to a subject in need of treatment.As used herein, the term “subject” includes mammals, such as but notlimited to rodents, pigs, cats, dogs, and primates, and specificallyincludes humans. In at least some approaches, the subject is a humanadult suffering from age related organ or tissue decline or dysfunctionwhich may occur at any age. In at least some approaches, the subject maybe generally healthy, at risk of developing a cognitive impairment, atrisk of developing an age-related decline in tissue or organ function,have one or more symptoms of a cognitive impairment, or have one or moresymptoms of an age-related decline in tissue or organ function. Forexample, a subject “at risk” of developing a cognitive impairment mayhave a family history of a cognitive impairment, carry a gene known orbelieved to be associated with a cognitive impairment, and/or haveanother medical condition associated with development of a cognitiveimpairment. Similarly, a subject “at risk” of developing an age-relateddecline in tissue or organ function may have a family history of adecline in tissue or organ function, carry a gene known or believed tobe associated with a decline in tissue or organ function, and/or haveanother medical condition associated with development of a decline intissue or organ function.

The term “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” meansthe amount that will elicit the biological or medical response of asubject that is being sought by a medical doctor or other clinician. Inone aspect, the term “effective amount” is intended to mean the amountthat will bring about a biologically meaningful improvement in thetreated subject. Data obtained from animal studies can be used informulating a range of dosages for human use. The dosage may varydepending upon the dosage form employed, sensitivity of the patient, andthe route of administration. The dosage suitable for a given subject canbe determined by one of skill in the art. Generally, dosage andadministration can be adjusted to provide or to maintain the desiredeffect.

Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells are capable of differentiating into more than onegerm line or tissue specific lineage. Pluripotent stem cells have thepotential to differentiate into endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Asused herein, “pluripotent” can include pluripotent stem cells from allsources, such as but not limited to embryo, placenta, amniotic fluid,bone marrow, or those derived ex vivo from adult stem cells or adultsomatic cells, and specifically includes embryonic stem cells (ESCs),modified adult stem or somatic cells (ASCs), that is, inducedpluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and very small embryonic-like stem cells(VSELs). Pluripotent stem cells traditionally arise from the blastocyststage of embryonic development and have the ability to develop into alltypes of fetal and adult cells except perhaps for placenta. Embryonicpluripotent stem cells (ESC) generally can be isolated from a 50- to150-cell, 4- to 5-day-old post-fertilization blastocyst. While ESCs arecapable of indefinite ex vivo proliferation, they exist only transientlyin vivo during embryogenesis. Pluripotent stem cells have also beenartificially generated (i.e., induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC))from other sources, such as placenta or from genetic manipulation ofadult stem cells (ASC) or even adult somatic cells. ASC are located intissues throughout the body and function as a reservoir to replacedamaged or aging cells. ASC are generally restricted in theirdifferentiation to cell lineages of the organ system from which theyoriginate (i.e., “multipotent” stem cells), although recent researchsuggests that adult tissues, such as bone marrow, may harbor dormantpluripotent stem cells referred to as “very small embryonic-like stemcells” or “VSELs.”

Supernumerary Human ESC lines may be obtained from in vitrofertilization clinic sources such as Human ESC line Cecol-14, obtainedcommercially from Cecolfes, Bogota, Colombia. Of course, othersupernumerary embryonic stem cell lines may be used, if desired.

Adult stem cells can be isolated from mammalian tissue, including fromany adult organ, umbilical cord blood, or placenta. The adult stem cellsare multipotent, but they may be manipulated to provide pluripotent stemcells (iPSC) using conventional techniques.

ESC have great versatility but, compared to ASC, can be problematic forin vivo treatments due to the tendency of ESC to form teratoma. Incontrast, ASC normally do not form teratoma and follow traditionallineage-specific differentiation patterns, fulfilling their physiologichomologous function of replacing normal turnover, aging or damagedtissues.

In one aspect, the stem cells can be derived from mammals, such as butnot limited to rodents, pigs, cats, dogs, and primates, includinghumans.

Nonviable Pluripotent Stem Cells

As noted above, the pluripotent stem cells useful herein are nonviable.Advantageously, nonviable stem cells do not form teratomas.Surprisingly, nonviable pluripotent stem cells, including pluripotentstem cells that have been lethally irradiated or lyophilized into apowder, remain capable of improving age-related declines in tissue andorgan function, as well as repairing damaged organs or tissues in asubject. No adverse effects have been noted after treatment. At least insome approaches, it has been found that lyophilized pluripotent stemcells have better efficacy than lethally irradiated pluripotent stemcells.

Prior to being rendered nonviable, the stem cells may be grown undersuitable culture conditions. By one approach, the stem cells can beplated with a feeder layer for long-term culture of the stem cells. Thefeeder cells are treated so that the feeder cells do not divide duringculturing. Human cells can be used as a feeder layer. For example, humanfibroblasts, such as foreskin fibroblasts, can be used as a feederlayer. In one aspect, the stem cells are grown to about 70 percentconfluence. In another aspect, the stem cells are grown on coatedplates, such as plates coated with gelatin, laminin, collagen,recombinant human proteins, such as recombinant laminin or collagen, aswell as commercially available substrates, such as MATRIGEL™ BasementMembrane Matrix from BD Biosciences, or combinations thereof, without afeeder layer for the final passages before collection for use in themethods described herein.

In one aspect, the stem cells may be made nonviable with irradiation,phototherapy, chemical treatment, and/or lyophilization. At least insome approaches, the method used should be effective to retain theintracellular contents of the stem cells. In one approach, the nonviablepluripotent stem cells useful herein also include nonviable fragments ofpluripotent stem cells including vesicles or liposomal membraneencapsulated lyophilized pluripotent stem cell or fragments ofpluripotent stem cells. These nonviable fragments may be used alone orin addition to non-viable but intact (i.e., cellular contents remainwithin the cell membrane) pluripotent stem cells. In another approach,the nonviable pluripotent stem cells useful herein are in the form ofintact cells.

While there are a variety of techniques suitable for producing nonviablepluripotent stem cells, the following exemplary techniques are describedin more detail. Other techniques may be used, if desired.

Lyophilization.

In one approach, the pluripotent stem cells may be made nonviable bylyophilization. Generally, during lyophilization, water is removed fromthe cells after the cells are frozen and placed under vacuum so that icein the product changes directly from solid to vapor without passingthrough the liquid phase. Other methods of freeze-drying orcryodesiccation may also be used, if desired, if the method selecteddoes not have an adverse effect on the efficacy of the stem cells.Importantly, the lyophilized pluripotent stem cells in powdered form arenot viable upon hydration, reconstitution, or suspension in liquid orother media, such as saline, before administration to a subject. Thepowdered cells can also be administered to a subject in powder formwithout reconstitution.

Lyophilization techniques may be used to provide a powdered pluripotentstem cell composition that is suitable for prolonged storage at roomtemperature or colder temperatures in sealed vials or ampules, for longperiods of time. Lyophilization also allows for pre-production, ease ofstorage and transportation, and rapid availability for product deliveryand access at the time of required treatment. Due to their indefiniteshelf stability and ease of use, the lyophilized stem cells providegreat flexibility to the applications in which the lyophilizedpluripotent stem cell powder can be used.

By one approach, the pluripotent stem cells are prepared and cultured asdescribed above and washed, such as with PBS, before collection andlyophilization. In this respect, the lyophilized cells do not includethe media in which the cells were cultured (i.e., do not includeconditioned media), thereby eliminating the possibility that thetherapeutic benefit provided by the lyophilized stem cells can beattributed to conditioned media and any secreted factors, metabolites,proteins, or other components in the media.

An exemplary lyophilization technique that may be used is as follows.The cells are pretreated by dispersing them in a freezing solution andthen freezing in liquid nitrogen. In one aspect, trehalose may be usedas a lyoprotectant or freezing solution during the freezing step, butother lyoprotectants may also be used, if desired. The cells are thentransferred to a lyophilizer that maintains a temperature low enough tokeep the cells frozen. Vacuum is applied to lower atmospheric pressureto allow sublimation of water (i.e., transition of water from solidphase to vapor phase without forming an intermittent liquid). A varietyof lyophilizers are commercially available, from bench top manifolds tovery expensive large-scale production freeze driers. Lyophilization isadvantageous in that it provides a storage-ready and stable product ofstem cell contents in powder form with no viable residual cells ormicrobes.

At least in some approaches, lyophilization of the pluripotent stemcells preserves intact cell membranes. By one approach, thelyophilization conditions may be selected to substantially maintain theintegrity of at least the cellular proteins so as to preserve proteinstructure and function but without any viable cells.

It was unexpectedly found that lyophilized pluripotent stem cells thatare dead and desiccated were be at least as effective as, and in someinstances surprisingly more effective than, lethally irradiatedpluripotent stem cells that are able to live for hours or at most daysin the body after administration to a subject. Many drugs and proteinscannot be lyophilized and then reconstituted to provide a compositionhaving an efficacy similar to that of the drug or protein prior tolyophilization. Further, the ability of a cell to retain desiredfunction after irradiation does not necessarily suggest its ability toretain desired function after lyophilization. Accordingly, it wasunexpected that pluripotent stem cells could be lyophilized to providenon-viable cells (i.e., cells that are dead and desiccated) yet stillprovide a composition that is effective to improve age-related declinesin tissue and organ function, as well as repairing damaged organs ortissues in a subject.

Radiation.

In one aspect, the stem cells can be exposed to lethal doses ofradiation, e.g., 100 Gy single fraction. The precise radiation dosedelivered to the cells and length of dose is not critical so long as thecells are rendered nonviable. Other types of radiation, such asultraviolet light, may also be used.

Inducing Growth Arrest or Apoptosis.

In yet another aspect, the stem cells can be treated with an agent thatinduces growth arrest and/or apoptosis, such as but not limited toMitomycin C, Actinomycin D, Camptothecin, Cycloheximide, Dexamethasone,Doxorubicin, Etoposide, and combinations thereof. Any other agent may beused that inhibits cell proliferation including but not limited toinhibitors of cellular components necessary for mitosis such as but notlimited to protein synthesis, microtubule function, spindle check pointunit, cell cycle specific kinases, cyclins, and or apoptotic inducingagents, as well as any means of genetic, protein, and or cellmanipulation that will allow termination or prevention of unregulated orunlimited cell proliferation.

Treatment

In one approach, the methods described herein can be practiced within ashort period of time after lyophilization or other form of lethalinactivation of the pluripotent stem cells. The methods described hereinmay also be practiced with stem cells that were previously lyophilizedor lethally inactivated and packaged for storage. In one aspect, theformulation may be a powder or lyophilisate that is reconstituted in aliquid or other media of choice prior to use. In another aspect, liquidformulations can be prepared, such as, for example, in the form of asolution or suspension in a non-toxic, parenterally-acceptable solventor diluent. In yet another aspect, the formulation may be in the form ofan emulsion or liquid concentrate for dilution prior to administration.Exemplary pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers include saline, phosphatebuffered saline, isotonic saline, Ringer's solution, dextrose, sterilewater, deionized water, glycerol, ethanol, 5% dextrose in water, andcombinations thereof. For topical application, the media to which thenonviable stem cells are added may include, for example,pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such as creams, ointments,emulsions, and aqueous solutions.

In another approach, lyophilized pluripotent stem cell powder may bedispersed or rehydrated in a liquid media and added to a syringe,implantation device, or the like, depending upon the intended mode ofdelivery and use. In certain aspects, the lyophilized pluripotent stemcells may be provided in unit dosage form, such that an amount of thecomposition is provided in single or multi-dose dose containers.

The lyophilized pluripotent stem cell powder described herein may beadministered to a subject by a variety of modes of administration, suchas, for example, topical, enteral, or parenteral, and specificallyincluding subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intravascular, intramuscular,intramyocardial, intranasal, intrathecal, aerosolized, or transdermal.As such, the formulation as well as the concentration of the compositionmay vary. In one aspect, the compositions may be applied directly ortopically to target tissues or organs, or to surrounding fluid ortissue. In one aspect, administration to the desired location may bedone by catheter, infusion pump, or stent. Additional routes of deliveryinclude topical application for treatment of the skin or wound.

The following examples are provided to illustrate certain aspects of thedisclosure but should not be construed as limiting the scope of thedisclosure. All publications and patents referenced herein areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Percentages andratios are by weight unless specified otherwise.

Examples Example 1—Preparation of Lyophilized Embryonic Stem Cells

Murine embryonic stem cells (ESC) were maintained feeder free with mediacontaining 205 ml DMEM with glucose/sodium bicarbonate (Millipore,SLM-220-B), 37.5 ml ES Cell Qualified Feeder Bovine Serum (MilliporeES-009-C), 2.5 ml 100× Non-Essential Amino Acids (NEAA) (MilliporeTMS-001-C), 2.5 ml L-glutamine solution (Millipore TMS-002-C), 2.5 ml100× penicillin/streptomycin (Millipore TMS-AB2-C), and 12.5 μl LeukemiaInhibitor Factor (LIF) 10 UG (Millipore, LIF2010).

Approximately 1.0×10⁶ ESC were suspended in 0.5 ml phosphate bufferedsaline with 0.1M trehalose (5) (Sigma Aldrich cat T0167) and 0.3 mg/dlEGCC (Zhejiant Yixin Pharmaceutical, Lanxi, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China) andcryopreserved at −80° C. Lyophilization was done at −80° C. and <0.008torr using a Labconco Freezone 2.5 liter freeze dry system (LabconcoCorporation, Kansas City, Mo.). Lyophilized ESC were stored at roomtemperature in a trehalose sugar matrix (FIG. 1).

Prior to use for injection, the sugar matrix dissolves when exposed tonormal saline, leaving intact but non-viable ESC.

Example 2—Improvement of Age Related Learning and Memory Deficits in 18Month Old Mice

As a person ages, new learning becomes more difficult and long memory orretention of new events declines. The Morris water maze test quantifiesboth learning of new events and memory retention. On the first day(“training day”), a mouse is trained to find a raised platform in a tankof water. The maximum trial time is 60 seconds. If the mouse does notfind the platform in 60 seconds, the mouse is placed on the platform.The first day tests how quickly the mouse learns to reach the escapeplatform. The mouse is tested on the second day (“test day”) by beingreleased in an opaque tank with the escape platform in the same locationbut now submerged. The second day is a test of long-term memory. Thewater tank is divided into four quadrants, and the escape platformalways stays in the same location in the same quadrant. The mouse isplaced in each quadrant next to the tank wall with its head facing thewall of the tank prior to release. The time to reach the escape platformis measured upon release of the mouse in each quadrant.

Eighteen month old B57B6 mice (Jackson Labs) mice (four in each group)received either 0.9% w/v NaCl saline, referred to herein as “normalsaline” or “NS” (control), lyophilized ESC, or irradiated ESC. Thelyophilized ESC and irradiated ESC were reconstituted in normal saline.The normal saline, lyophilized ESC (about 1-5×10⁶ cells), or irradiatedESC (about 1-5×10⁶ cells) were injected intraperitoneally (IP) once aweek for three weeks.

The mice underwent the Morris Water Maze test one week after the thirdinjection. The mice who had received either irradiated or lyophilizedESC learned much more quickly (P<0.05) than mice who received onlynormal saline. A test is deemed “failed” upon failure to reach theplatform in 60 seconds. As shown in FIG. 2, the mice treated with thenormal saline control failed 75% of the tests on training day, whereasthe mice treated with irradiated ESC or lyophilized ESCS failed only 42%or 25%, respectively, of the tests on training day.

Although mice treated with irradiated ESC performed better than controlmice, the mice treated with lyophilized ESC consistently performedbetter than mice receiving irradiated ESC. Therefore, further comparisonwas limited to only control mice and those treated with lyophilized ESC.As shown in FIG. 3, on training day, mice who received lyophilized ESCreached the escape platform faster (P<0.05) from each consecutivequadrant compared to control mice.

Long-term memory is assessed by the amount of time taken to reach theescape platform on the first try of the second day (24 hours aftertraining). As shown in FIG. 4, the mice treated with lyophilized ESCreached the escape platform more quickly than the control mice in thefirst attempt on the second day. Therefore, it was found that long-termmemory was found to be significantly better in lyophilized ESC treatedmice compared to control mice.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mean time to the escape platform for allattempts from all four quadrants was also significantly better (P<0.5)in mice treated with lyophilized ESC.

Example 3—Improvement of Age Related Cardiac Dysfunction in 18 Month OldMice

As a person ages, it has been found that the heart generally increasesin weight, becomes stiffer, and has reduced contractility (i.e., areduction in the maximum change in pressure with respect to time (dp/dt)during systole) and reduced diastolic relaxation (i.e., a reduction inthe maximum change in pressure with respect to time (dp/dt) duringdiastole).

Eighteen month old B57B6 mice were evaluated for age related cardiacdysfunction. Four mice in each group received either normal saline(“NS”; control), lyophilized ESC, or irradiated ESC. The lyophilized ESCand irradiated ESC were reconstituted in normal saline. The normalsaline, lyophilized ESC dissolved in NS (about 1-5×10⁶ cells), orirradiated ESC suspended in NS (about 1-5×10⁶ cells) were injectedintraperitoneally (IP) once a week for three weeks. A Millar catheterwas placed in the left ventricle to measure dp/dt (contractility andrelaxation) one week after the third injection.

Cardiac contractility and relaxation (dp/dt) was measured via ahigh-fidelity transducer-tipped pressure catheter (SPR 839; MillarInstruments, Houston, Tex.) introduced via the carotid artery and intothe left ventricle. Signals were digitized by use of a data translationseries analog digital converter and then stored and analyzed on a MillarPVAN data acquisition and analysis system. Values derived from pressuretraces were averaged over no less than 20 beats. The average of threesignals each over 20 beats was obtained for contractility (+dp/dtmaximal rate of change in systolic pressure (mmHg)/time (sec)) andrelaxation (−dp/dt maximal rate of change in diastolic pressure).

Thereafter, the mice were euthanized, and the hearts were surgicallyremoved and drained of blood and weighed. As shown in FIG. 6, the micetreated with lyophilized ESC had smaller lighter hearts (in grams) thanthe saline-treated control mice, which is consistent with a youngerphenotype. As shown in FIG. 7, cardiac contractility was stronger andrelaxation faster in lyophilized ESC treated mice, which is consistentwith return of a more youthful heart function.

While the disclosure has been particularly described with reference toparticular processes and embodiments, it will be appreciated thatvarious alterations, modifications, and adaptations may be made by thoseskilled in the art based on the present disclosure and are intended tobe within the spirit and scope of the embodied method as expressed inthe appended claims.

REFERENCES

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method for improving cognition in a subject inneed thereof, the method comprising administering a compositioncomprising an amount of nonviable pluripotent stem cells effective toimprove cognition in the subject.
 2. The method according to claim 1,further comprising preparing the composition by mixing nonviablepluripotent stem cells with liquid media.
 3. The method according toclaim 2, wherein the liquid media comprises saline.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the subject is a human.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the human subject is in need of treatmentfor a deficiency in at least one of the following cognitive abilities:reasoning, judgment, perception, attention, memory, motor skills,language, coordination, intelligence, and visual and spatial processing.6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the nonviable pluripotentstem cells are lyophilized pluripotent stem cells.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the nonviable pluripotent stem cells arelethally irradiated pluripotent stem cells.
 8. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the pluripotent stem cells do not include conditionedmedia.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pluripotent stemcells are embryonic stem cells.
 10. The method according to claim 1,wherein improving cognition includes improving memory.
 11. A method forslowing the progression of cognitive impairment in a subject withage-related cognitive impairment, the method comprising administering acomposition comprising an amount of nonviable pluripotent stem cellseffective to slow the progression of cognitive impairment in thesubject.
 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprisingpreparing the composition by mixing nonviable pluripotent stem cellswith liquid media.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein theliquid media comprises saline.
 14. The method according to claim 11,wherein the subject is a human.
 15. The method according to claim 11,wherein the nonviable pluripotent stem cells are lyophilized pluripotentstem cells.
 16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the nonviablepluripotent stem cells are lethally irradiated pluripotent stem cells.17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the pluripotent stem cellsdo not include conditioned media.
 18. The method according to claim 11,wherein the pluripotent stem cells are embryonic stem cells.
 19. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein the cognitive impairment is adeficiency in at least one of the following: reasoning, judgment,perception, attention, memory, motor skills, language, coordination,intelligence, and visual and spatial processing.